Lope National Park was the first protected area in Gabon when the Lope-Okanda Wildlife Reserve was created in 1946. Its legal and management statutes have changed several times over the years. recentlythe Lope National Park became part of the network of 13 Parks created in August 2002 by Presidential decree. Although comprising mostly of rainforestto the north the Park contains the last remnants of grass savannas created in Central Africa during the last Ice Age, some15000 years ago. These savannas are now a rare 'island' habitat in the rainforests and thus the Park preserves a unique record of biological evolution during this time. After the almost total disappearance of the forests, the savannahs began to see trees growing out from small forested islands, which also played the role of refuge for primary vegetation. This area is extremely rich with populations of about 4,500 forest elephants, 2,500 gorillas, 2,000 chimpanzees, 50,000 mandrills, 1,000 leopard, Sitatunga, Yellow-backed Duiker, Black Colobus, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Putty-nosed Monkey, Red-river Hogs, and over 400 species of birds. In spite of their numbers, it is not always easy to see them because of the thick forest cover but with effort and patience one is often rewarded.The lodge at Lope overlooks the Ogooue River where Water Thick-knee, Rock Pratincole, White-headed Lapwing, Pied Kingfisher and African Pied Wagtail are to be found. In thelodge grounds Johanna's Superb and Violet-tailed sunbirds, and Blue-breasted Bee-eaters are common and decorate the bushes and roadsides throughout the reserve. The Lopearea is a diverse rainforest savanna mosaic that supports a great many species including Black Guineafowl, the rare and localized Dja River Scrub Warbler, a skulking, yet sought after Bradypterus warbler, Blue-headed Wood-dove, Gabon Coucal, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Latham's Francolin, Black Bee-eater, Black-headed Batis and Black Dwarf Hornbill. Bridges in the forest provide good places to look at the mid-storey and canopy species especially for greenbuls like Little, Little Grey, Slender-billed, Red-tailed and White-bearded. In the savannahs and scrubone expectsto find Forbes's Plover, Long-legged Pipit, Yellow-mantled Whydah, Senegal Coucal, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye, Croaking, Short-winged and Pectoral-patch Cisticolas, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Compact Weaver, Orange Weaver and Black-chinned Quailfinch. In mixed bird partiesone might find Cassin's, Red-bellied and Red-headed Malimbes together with Red-billed Dwarf Hornbills. Along the edges of forest patches and inside the forest the 'tic-tic-tic' of the Yellowbill will give itself away, and Splendid Glossy Starling, Crowned Eagle, Naked-faced Barbet, Whistling Cisticola are also likely.

The conservation centre at Mikongo lies to the south of Lope Hotel. It is from here that visitors access this central African tropical forest and it is from here that one has opportuities to look for primates and for the birders, theenigmatic Grey-necked Rock-fowl. Black Colobus, Crowned and Putty-nosed Monkeys, Western Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Mandrills, Forest Elephant, various species of forest duiker and Red River Hogs are most likely. Also in the forest various species of hornbill including White-crested, African Pied, Piping and the huge Black-casqued Wattled occur; also's to be seen include Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Great Blue Turaco, Guinea Turaco, Gabon Coucal, African Grey Parrot, various Greenbuls including Honeyguide, Golden, Red-tailed and ifvery lucky Lyre-tailed Honeyguide and Long-tailed Hawk.